The New York Jets and other NFL teams have reportedly accepted $5.4 million from the Department of Defense to stage game-day ceremonies honoring soldiers that are little more than publicity stunts.

The Jets accepted payments totaling $377,000 from 2011 to 2014 for the phony salutes, and millions more were shelled out to 11 other NFL franchises, according to New Jersey’s Star-Ledger.

“Those of us go to sporting events and see them honoring the heroes,” U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) told the paper. “You get a good feeling in your heart. Then to find out they’re doing it because they’re compensated for it — it leaves you underwhelmed. It seems a little unseemly.”

The Pentagon’s taxpayer bucks to the Jets buy a “Hometown Hero” segment, where a soldier or two is shown on the big screen. Their names are blared through the stadium as the crowd is asked to thank them for their service.

The soldiers get sideline seats in the Coaches Club.

“They realize the public believes they’re doing it as a public service or a sense of patriotism,” Flake told the Star Ledger.

A Jets spokesperson told the paper that they “supported all five branches of the US armed forces.”